Gaels begin football poll at No. 9

September 4, 2014

The panelists went way out on a limb to select the top team in the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport football ranking of 2014.

The group of University Football Reporters of Canada collectively chose the defending Vanier Cup champion Laval rouge et or, who have won five of the last six national titles, and was the losing finalist one of the other years. The only time since 2008 Laval didn’t play in the Vanier was 2009, when it was defeated by Queen’s in a national semifinal.

Laval will open its regular schedule Sunday, when it hosts the Montreal Carabins, who begin the season as the No. 4-ranked team in the land.

Three Ontario teams can be found in the year’s first weekly ranking: Western at No. 3, McMaster at No. 5, Guelph at No. 8 and Queen’s at No. 9.

Guelph’s position is perhaps the most curious, since it lost its opening game, 34-27 to McMaster, and last year was beaten twice by Queen’s.

Calgary, who lost last year’s national-championship game to Laval 25-14, is ranked second, one of four Canada West teams in the Top 10.

As it did for most of last year, the panel ignored the Atlantic conference.